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016) THE SOMME (APRIL 1917) Amiens was the one big town that could be reached easily from the Somme front for dinner, so every night it was crowded with officers and men who had come back in cars, motor-bikes, lorries or any old thing in or on which they could get a lift.

After dinner they would stand near the station and hail anything passing, till they found something that would drop them near their destination.

As there was an endless stream of traffic going out over the Albert and Peronne Roads during that time (April 1917), it was easy.
Amiens is a dirty old town with its seven canals.

The cathedral, belfry and the theatre are, of course, wonderful, but there is little else except the dirt.
I remember later lunching with John Sargent in Amiens, after which I asked him if he would like to see the front of the theatre.